PISD TO HOLD DRUG TESTING POLICY FORUM

A community forum to discuss a proposed Paris Independent School
District drug testing policy is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. Monday in the
Paris High School auditorium.

Participants are to be furnished the proposed policy as well as a
handout of frequently asked drug testing questions, according to
Superintendent Paul Trull.

Representatives from a drug testing company as well as a neighboring
school district with a policy in place are to join school
administrators and trustees in addressing concerns and reviewing the
proposed policy.

Cost to the district is anticipated at about $20,000 yearly. Students
or parents will be required to pay for all mandatory retesting after
any positive test.

Only students who participate in school-sponsored extracurricular
activities are subject to testing, according to school officials.

High school students would be scheduled for testing prior to
participating in an activity while students in grades seven and eight
are to be placed in a pool for random testing. After an initial test,
high school students are subject to random tests with students
selected by a computer.

Each student is to be assigned an identification number to assure
privacy. Only a designated school contact is to know student
identification numbers, according to the proposed policy.

If a test is positive, the school contact, parent, student and an
outside counselor are to be notified and on a second positive test the
student's sponsor or coach is to be notified.

The Paris ISD Alcohol Misuse and Controlled Substance Abuse designated
administrator (school contact) must have completed alcohol misuse and
controlled substance abuse awareness training as required by the U.S.
Department of Transportation.

Results are to be kept confidential and will not become a part of a
student's permanent record nor be used in any disciplinary measure
other than suspension from extracurricular activities.

Substances tested for include those that are illegal to buy, possess,
use, sell or distribute under state or federal law including alcohol
and prescription drugs.

More specifically, the district plans to test for amphetamines,
cocaine and marijuana, metabolics, opium and phencyclidine.

All positive tests will be confirmed by a second test. If found
positive, notification is to be made to parents, and the designated
administrator; a required conference is scheduled; the student is
referred for substance abuse counseling and is retested with each
random testing group for one calendar year or for two negative tests.

A second positive test results in suspension from extracurricular
activities for 30 calendar days with a parent conference and referral
to drug abuse counseling as well as retesting at the end of the
suspension period and before rejoining extracurricular activities.

A third positive tests results in suspension from extracurricular
activities for one calendar year along with a parent conference and
continued referral to drug abuse counseling.